The Hub has been trying to feature Janelle Michonski for some time now but we haven’t been able to get her to put her paint brush down long enough. Well, we finally cornered her and got her to share about her busy little art studio downtown. Seventh St. Studio is located on the corner of 7th and Ohio in Wichita Falls, TX. Seventh St. Studio is a working art studio in the heart of downtown.
I started the 7th St. Studio about one and a half years ago. I told an artist friend that I wanted to move my studio downtown and she suggested that I check out the Lasalle Bldg. on the corner of 7th and Ohio. I looked in the windows of the beautiful Lasalle Bldg., thinking to myself what an exquisite studio it would make. I was juggling the rent versus income equation when I noticed an historical placard located on the corner of the building. The placard declared that it was built in 1923 and was once known as “The Studio Hotel”!! I took one look at that sign and thought, “Oh heck yeah! THAT‘s my studio!!”. That is exactly what happened, and one and a half years later we are six artists who rent the space from the best possible landlords and we practice our craft in a simply wonderful environment.
Oh, it has been a GREAT year. We have seen dramatic changes in our beautiful downtown. The influx of other artists and studios, the preservation of historic buildings, the tide of residents moving into the area and the accompanying social and cultural changes that come with a burgeoning neighborhood. Downtown Proud and Downtown Development have led the way with successful festivals and attractions that make being/living downtown an exciting proposition. Restaurants and businesses… and a grocery store!! All this and more in the near future.
For us, the arts are thriving. Last year we (WF Art Association, Vickie Milam, Little h Creative, Vickie Harding Studio, Hello Again, The Yard, a number of street artists, and our 7th Street Studio) started Art After Hours. We have Art Walks on the first Thursday of every month, from April to October. Since then, more studios have opened so there will be even more art to enjoy this year. The more artists, the better.
We have organized drawing groups every Monday night and every other Wednesday night. We each chip in $5 to pay the model each session. You can’t beat the price! It is a good opportunity to work from life after leaving the college environment. We would love to have you model for us! We do lots of commission work and have an array of techniques and media to choose from. Several of our artists take private students. We are organizing group painting parties beginning in February. Depending on weather, we will start up our Art Walk season with new features sometime in the end of March or early April.
Janelle will have art on display at Ganache Cupcake Lounge for the entire month of February.
If you have questions you can call Janelle at 940-235-6879. Better yet, go see them! They would love to show you the studio and talk art! They are at 530 7th St., Suite 101 Wichita Falls. Follow them on FB so you can be kept up to date with their news.
